Here are some numbers I found interesting about this year’s KU football team.
All stats come from cfbstats.com or KUathletics.com.
• **KU is the only team in the nation that has played three games without recording an interception or throwing one.** Only nine other teams haven’t recorded an interception, while 11 others haven’t thrown one. Utah State and Rice also have no interceptions offensively or defensively, but both have just played two games.
• **KU’s offense is sixth in the nation in third-down conversion (57.45 percent).** The two Div. I teams that KU has played this season also rank in the top eight nationally (Georgia Tech, first; Northern Illinois, eighth).
• **KU is eighth nationally in punting, averaging 47.8 yards per boot.** Ron Doherty doesn’t make the national leaders list, though, because KU has not punted enough; a punter has to average 3.6 punts per game, and Doherty has 3.3.
• **Even with the defensive struggles, KU has more first downs than its opponents this year (74-73).**
• **KU’s defense has allowed the most 20-plus-yard plays (24) of any Div. I team.** The Jayhawks also have allowed the most 30-plus-yard plays (14) and 60-plus-yard plays (four). The Jayhawks are tied for second nationally in 10-plus-yard plays allowed (56).
• **KU has allowed 13 rushing plays of 20-plus yards this season.** The second-most allowed by any Div. I team is eight.
• **KU’s 44 points per game allowed is tied for second-worst nationally.** The Jayhawks’ 282 rushing yards per game allowed also is the second-worst mark in the nation.
• **KU has allowed 550 yards per game, which is second worst in the nation next to North Texas (559 yards per game).** As a side note, North Texas’ defensive coordinator is former KU defensive coordinator Clint Bowen.
• **KU has allowed 7.49 yards per rush this season.** That’s almost a full yard more than the second-worst run defense in Div. I (North Texas, 6.56 yards per rush).
• **KU’s opponents are averaging just 32.4 yards per punt.**
• **KU has allowed five sacks in three games this year (1.7 per game).** Last year, the Jayhawks allowed 37 sacks in 12 games (3.08 per game).
• **There have been only two 90-yard runs in Div. I this season:** Oregon’s LaMichael James’ 90-yard run against FCS school Missouri State and Georgia Tech’s Orwin Smith’s 95-yard run against KU.
• **Opponents are averaging 8.5 yards per play against KU’s defense.**
**• KU quarterback Jordan Webb has completed 39 of 59 passes this year (66.1 percent).** The school record for best completion percentage is held by Todd Reesing, who completed 66.5 percent of his passes in 2008.
• **On third down and 10 or more yards to go, Webb is 4-for-5 passing for 89 yards and two TDs.** All four of his completions have gone for 15-plus yards.
• **Running back James Sims is averaging 5.3 yards per carry on first downs (27 carries, 143 yards).**
• **Running back Darrian Miller averages 6.0 yards per carry in the first half (23 carries)** and 3.3 yards per carry in the second half (11 carries).
• **Linebacker Steven Johnson is second in the Big 12 in tackles (31, 10.33 per game).**
• **Receiver/kick returner D.J. Beshears leads the Big 12 in all-purpose yards per game (183.7).**
• **KU’s rushing offense (235 yards per game) is second in the Big 12 behind Missouri.**
• **KU is one of only nine teams nationally** to have at least 13 trips to the red zone and score on every one of them.
• **KU has scored touchdowns on 84.62 percent of its trips to the red zone** — the fifth-highest mark nationally for teams with at least 13 red-zone trips.
• **KU’s offense had eight, 70-plus-yard TD drives in 2010.** The Jayhawks already have nine, 70-plus-yard TD drives in three games this year.
• **KU does not have a punt return yet this season.**
• **KU’s defense has allowed 28 points per second half** and 18.3 points per third quarter this year.
